First start at the Farmers Insurance Open, Vijay Singh back in action, Charley Hull launching a YouTube channel. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion will remain connected to the rival circuit but needs more time for family. This was amicably agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil’s official statement. Koepka is known as a competitor who thrives on top-level competition, which he found limited in LIV. He initially moved to LIV in 2022 due to injuries threatening the end of his career and to secure a substantial retirement fund. Declining the last contractual season is therefore unsurprising, though questions remain about possible buyout or repayment of guaranteed money. It is also unclear whether the 35-year-old remains an owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which has appointed Talor Gooch as the new captain.
Speculation is rife about which fairways Koepka will soon appear on. With immediate eligibility on the DP World Tour, potentially subject to a penalty, or on the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension from his last LIV event. Former commissioner Jay Monahan’s lifetime bans were significantly reduced. Ultimately, why be vindictive when every returning LIV player benefits the more powerful PGA Tour? This question seems partially answered. According to ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership, which was not extended after 2022, and to be reinstated as a player.
An expected suspension would expire in August, coinciding with the conclusion of the 2026 season at the Tour Championship from August 27 to 30. Koepka would be eligible for 2027 when the PGA Tour launches a compressed schedule of nearly two dozen $20 million events with elite limited fields. The perfect time for a comeback, fitting Koepka’s preferences and appealing to investors of the new top league, PGA Tour Enterprises.
\”He might need some time, but I think he’ll return to the PGA Tour,\” Jon Rahm said recently on the Subpar podcast. \”He’ll likely play at least the minimum, the big tournaments he likes. If he qualifies for high-profile events or is invited, he’ll play those too.\” Possibly, the PGA Tour will show leniency toward a five-time major champion. The decision involves the Board, Player Directors, and the competition committee led by Tiger Woods, taking Rory McIlroy’s advice, who supports Koepka’s immediate return. A majority of fans agree, per a non-representative survey by Bunkered magazine.
Update: Leniency indeed came as news spread that Koepka is immediately eligible to play on the PGA Tour, with confirmed entries at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January at Torrey Pines and the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona. This is enabled by the new \”Returning Member Program,\” allowing select LIV players to resume PGA Tour membership without suspension.
Koepka’s PGA Tour Membership Renewed
Koepka’s application and the new PGA Tour rules pave the way for his